Scientific Name
Pyrus sp.
True to its name, this is one of the highly drought-adapted trees planted on the ridge surrounding the storm drainage basin northeast of the Residence Village. It appears to be one of several pear species that are native to the border area of China with Mongolia and Russia (Siberia) which experiences drought and extremes of temperature (especially cold). Alternatively, it could be a hybrid involving some combination of those species. The species most likely contributing to this hybrid would be Pyrus ussuriensis (Ussurian pear), Pyrus xerophila and Pyrus sinkiangensis. Any of these species and their hybrids are frequently used in China as cold hardy and drought-tolerant rootstocks for pear cultivars that have superior fruit.
Trees like this will produce a brownish speckled fruit about an inch in diameter. They may grow to around 30 feet tall with less spread than that and a pyramidal shape. The fruit requires some patience to achieve edibility, such as leaving it on the tree through several frosts so it’ll soften, and even then it won’t be to everyone’s liking. The leaves are egg-shaped (ovate), finely serrated and leathery. The branches include thorny spur shoots that make trimming a hazardous chore. Fall color can be orange to yellow, changing late. One of the things we will watch closely with this tree will be its reaction as it’s gradually put on more of an irrigation diet.